WoW's impact on the industry

[Z]

Conqueror in a War of Virtual Worlds (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/06/arts/design/06worl.html)

[Pro A.]

It certainly has returned online gaming to the forefront in the way that Counter-Strike, Starcraft, and Everquest had done in the 1990's, but this time the audience is far bigger and it has made a strong, tremendous impact.

[Phoenix]

I have one concern with the hordes (no pun intended) of WoW users.

It seems like there are 2 kinds of online gamers, and they both play WoW. There's the MMORPG kinds who pay $15 a month to spend 9 hours a day working to get a sword that will make the number that pops up when they hit something a little bigger, then there's the "I f*cked your mom last night" kind who used to be mostly on Xbox Live. I, being a normal online gamer, have a hard time putting up with these kinds. "stfu no1 cares i stole ur neklace go farm 4 1 noob" and "I HAVE A HUGE PENIS" gets annoying after a while.

[Coded-Dude]

but I do have a huge penis.....AAAAAAAAHGH!

j/k I have never played an mmorpg, waiting for a console version(next gen baby!)

[Pro A.]

I don't have the time for MMORPG's, so I never invested money in it, but it has quickly become a legitimate off-shoot of a genre.

[Z]

to Phoenix: this is a sad fact. even PSM was dissapointed when they tried an online PS2 beta game. the trial was only for a special playstation online user group. you would think these are handpicked and respectable people that are responsible and give valuable feedbak. well, PSM was shocked by the attitudes and behavior of some of these gamers. EGM also ran a colom about Halo 2's online troubles. they mentioned that the down right pathetic loads of people palying it online actually drives away many gamers. they unbelievable opsession of insult uses and other remarks really is sad and pathetic. you wouldn't believe what a 10 year old can say. you think these people are living on the streets with now families...

the dilemma here is that a publisher has a defficult balance between wanting the most users active and attracting new ones. I still say we need much, much more strict rules. if you get rid of the few 'rotten' apples, many more will have an enjoyable experience that they would want to comeback for more bringing their friends with them.

that was about online behavior. now about WoW's impact;
the article is very good. I think faster and cheaper online connection is the number one reason that online gaming is where it is today. that is why Korean's Jap's Chinese, and other Asian people can afford it. online gaming cafes are very popular there. even in countries like Thiland, you will find many people that spend 6-8 hours daily in these placed playing online PC games (mostly Asian games). when I think about it I get surprised. these people can afford to play so long everyday in a cafe where you pay by the hour. these aren't rich folks we are talking about. some of them don't even have a PC at home.

I also agree that there is certainly a huge 'hype' factor surrounding WoW. everyone is interested in checking it out.
personally, I don't know anything about online PC gaming, but the one game that I reallyy am interested in is FF11 on the PS2- ot a surprise being a console gamer. I chose the console version for the control scheme, and I chose FF11 for many obvious reasons. it is enough that this has to be the gorgeoust online game ever!

finally, I hope goverment will really push for better (and cheaper) online access. that will bring new investments and capital. things like online gaming, online shopping, online schooling, stock market, etc. combined are a lucrative financial attractions. many industries will make new ventures with many more people online.
if online users do not feel a burden of using fast broadband, you can expect them to be much more active and much more 'online friendly' to make some financial activities online.

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8 days to E3's killer!

[disrupter006]

Yeah, this game takes away your life, I know from experience. Don't play it if you haven't. I quit, now I'm almost 2 months sober of WoW. *pats self on back*

[Ravster]

What is World of Warcraft about? And what modes are there, etc etc ?

[Phoenix]

I play the game, and I can keep my life, my grades, and everything because I follow certain rules:

1.) You are not obligated to level up.
2.) Fun is first priority. Money, gear and experience are second, third and fourth, in no particular order.
3.) Never plan to play WoW. Always play because you feel like it. (One exception for me is making mooncloth every 4 days at #:30 PM. But I don't have to stay on, so I don't really plan to play.)
4.) Real life posesions are almost infinately more valuable than online posessions. Never, ever pay real money to get gold, unless it is something that makes the game more fun, rather than making you stronger (ie. a horse for $10).
5.) It's just a game. (http://wowseriousbusiness.ytmnd.com/)
6.) Mages are 1337er than the other 8 classes!